And now, to add insult to the injury, we face the subtle bigotry of "incrementalism." The White House has found a new buzzword - a rhetorical silver bullet to get the President off the hook for yet another forgotten promise. It's a common tactic of this particular White House. For example, did that promise to get DADT repealed suddenly become more trouble than it's worth? No problem. Simply change your commitment from "repealing" DADT to now only promising to "change" it in an incremental way. That way, you can take a small Solomon-esque step towards putting a friendlier face on the daily discharge of two gay service members under this administration, while still keeping the main policy in place and hopefully avoiding the pesky controversy that often comes with principle.
In three stories in the past twenty-four hours we've seen the appearance of the "incrementalism" buzzword (here and here), and one story reports that President Obama is going to explain to our community on Saturday night how necessary incrementalism is to achieving our rights.
Don't believe it. It's a smoke screen. There has been no incremental movement whatsoever by this administration towards repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell, repealing DOMA, or passing ENDA. Again, I take you back to the gay passports. It's a nice gesture, don't get me wrong. But how is putting our partners' names on passports in a handful of states, holding a cocktail party for some gay leaders while banning others, issuing a Pride Proclamation, and nominating a gay ambassador to an island when we've had gay ambassadorial nominees for 12 years already - how does any of this even incrementally advance the President's major commitments on DADT, DOMA, ENDA, the HIV travel ban, and so much more?
Do you suppose the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in increments?
Obama and the Democrats are facing a major revolt in 2010. If they lose seats in Congress, it will be because they lied to us in 2008. I wish there were someone in the House or Senate who had balls like Alan Grayson's speaking on behalf of gays. What we get is Barney Frank saying "Keep quiet!"
And the sad part is that Aravosis is absolutely right: we're not even getting increments. We're getting backpedaling and stonewalling in the form of cocktail parties.
And frankly, if one of the attendees at tomorrow's HRC soiree doesn't stand up and give Obama hell, I wash my hands of the entire gay establishment. (Of course, I'm close to that already, but I do maintain a little hope.)
But then, I stopped expecting miracles a while ago.
Update: Timothy Kincaid has an angle I hadn't though of:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee countered that it was trying “to promote what he stands for and the positive processes that have started now.” It lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama’s calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.
If we are now presenting awards based on intentions and promises rather than on actions and accomplishments, then no doubt the Human Rights Campaign will be awarding the President on Saturday with the Fierce Advocate Award.
It appears that Joe Salmonese is paving the way for a big speech tonight that says -- nothing:
I've written that we have actually covered a good deal of ground so far.
And what exactly is that? Granting benefits -- and not the critical benefits, mind you -- to the partners of gay government employees? The same benefits that were available under Clinton and Bush? Allowing the people in some states to include their spouses on their passports? Asking the Pentagon to think about how they would implement the repeal of DADT -- when they have a minute to spare?
I am sure of this: on January 19, 2017, I will look back on the President's address to my community as an affirmation of his pledge to be our ally. I will remember it as the day when we all stood together and committed to finish what Senator Kennedy called our unfinished business. And I am sure of this: on January 19, 2017, I will also look back on many other victories that President Barack Obama made possible.
I've got news for you, Joe -- it's not Barack Obama making anything possible. Barack Obama is reneging on every campaign pledge he made to this community. What's happening is happening in spite of him -- and in spite of you and HRC.
Words are cheap. And now we know HRC's price.
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